Specialized, high-throughput molecular assembler (schematic and prettified)
A robot-free image I prepared for the cover of C&E News, 1 Dec 2003
In a post about molecular assembly lines, I discussed non-ribosomal (hence non-programmable) peptide synthetases, a form of specialized molecular manufacturing machinery found in some cells, and added that
In the molecular-manufacturing architecture described in Nanosystems, simple assembly-line [...]
The Singularity Summit 2008 media collection has been improved: MP3 audio added, bugs fixed in the video, and content descriptions attached to each talk; along with a podcast feed.
Available online.
Asteroid Itokawa
Image from the Japanese space probe Hayabusa, which is scheduled to return a sample canister in June 2010.
The National Space Society has released a critical report on NASA’s performance and objectives which argues that plans to return to the Moon are both underfunded and misdirected. Coauthored by Buzz Aldrin, pilot of the first lunar [...]Knowledge and know-how often go together. Where technologies are concerned, we tend to understand the things we make, and often can make the things we understand. This is a widespread pattern, but it’s important to recognize the exceptions, and nanofabrication is one of them.
There’s no necessary connection between understanding something and being able to make [...]
Tubes, spirals, rings, and decorative loose ends
From “Controversial new theory for nanotube growth”, a news article about the paper “Dislocation theory of chirality-controlled nanotube growth” F Ding, AR Harutyunyanb, and BI Yakobson, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), PNAS Early Edition, 6 Feb 2009.
Today I read a report of a controversy [...]Design software is arguably the chief limiting factor in the rate of progress toward advanced nanotechnologies, and this makes it a topic of central importance. Questions of design and modeling also touch on diverse topics: technology objectives, scientific knowledge and unknowns, research directions that deserve many millions of dollars of funding, and specific problems that [...]
Vault structure (a single protein in red)
“The Structure of Rat Liver Vault at 3.5 Angstrom Resolution” H Tanaka et al., Science, 323: 384–388 (2009).
They’re called “vaults”. They‘re in our cells, and in those of every plant, animal, and fungus. Like ribosomes, they’re atomically precise self-assembled structures made of protein and RNA, but they’re big [...]Toward Advanced Nanotechnology: Nanomaterials (5)
My previous post in this series, Nanostructures, Nanomaterials, and Lattice-Scaled Stiffness, explains why the lattice-scaled modulus, Klm, is an important figure of merit: For a set of machines made of different materials, but with similar structures (similar numbers and arrangements of lattice cells), the Klm parameter determines the energy required [...]
Physics knowledge: Comparisons of U.S. and Chinese freshmen college students
“Learning and Scientific Reasoning”
L Bao et al., Science, 323: 586–587 (2009).
(With update below)
Students interested in nanotechnology have often asked me for advice on what to study. I plan to write a series of posts about this, but there’s one basic piece of advice that will [...]
Nanotechnology-based products that address large consumer markets are increasingly being launched. Management at companies making and selling such products must decide how to market those products. In particular, companies must decide whether their marketing campaigns should emphasize the nanoscale components or materials inside of the products. In this article, Patti Hill analyzes the issues associated with a “nano inside” marketing campaign. She provides examples of successful marketing campaigns such as the Intel Inside® Program, highlights the challenges associated with a “nano inside” marketing campaign, and makes recommendations for companies seeking to market nanotech-based products.A very well considered article from one of today's leading PR minds. In an earlier post, I told you about my small contribution of background info to Patti Hill's article, at this LINK.SIAI Advisor Dr. Steve Omohundro will speak on “Creating a Cooperative Future” at an AI Meetup sponsored by Global Futures.
Feb. 22 in the Bay Area. See Facebook for details.
: : skip to main skip to sidebar blog~nano : Nanoscale Materials and Nanotechnology Nanoscale Materials and Nanotechnology : materials whose size ranges from 1nm to 100 nm , and building everyday objects from the nanoscale up . Dedicated to an ongoing analysis of nanoscale technologies and molecular . manufacturing I support And I am a member of the 7-gallon club 61 pints so far Enter your search terms Web blog~nano Submit search form Labels advanced materials 48 AI 5 automotive 8 education 8 energy 30 environment 19 ethics 17 food 3 fuel cells 7 homeland security 2 investing 21 jobs 2 military 13 miscellaneous 1 molecular manufacturing 28 nanoelectronics 12 nanomedicine 30 nanotubes 23 patents 3 personal care 5 picture 86 possible futures 81 preparing for nanotechnology 43 products 14 quantum computing 1 quote 79 regulation 9 sensors 12 solar 9 space 5 tools 5 water 5 Glossary Nanoscale Materials due to their size 1 100 nm these materials often exhibit unique properties . Nanotechnology definition does not fit in a few words . Visit the link . Molecular manufacturing The building of complex structures by mechanochemical processes . CRN Other Glossaries Nanotechnology Now CRN